perrin



March 24, 1964 J. L. PERRIN MULTIPLE ROLL DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1962 Era. 4.

' INVENTOR. JACK L. PERR/N March 24, 1964 J. L. PERRIN 3,126,164

MULTIPLE ROLL DISPENSER Filed Sept. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l2 0 '4 INVENTOR.

JACK L. PERR/M BY 7 4 m I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,126,164 MULTIPLE ROLL DISPENSER Jack L. Perrin, Los Angeles, Calif assignor to Towlsaver, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Sept. 17, 1%2, Ser. No. 225,406 9 Claims. (til. 24255.53)

This invention relates to a dispenser for a plurality of rolls of material, such as paper, or the like, said dispenser being characterized by the fact that it is adapted to successively dispense a plurality of rolls of material, thus causing the users of the dispenser to exhaust a first roll before utilizing the material on successive rolls.

In order to illustrate the construction and mode of operation of the dispenser of the invention, it will be described as utilized to successively dispense rolls of toilet tissue but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the principles of the invention may be applied with equal cogency to a variety of dispensers including roll paper towels and the like. Therefore, it is not intended that the principles of the invention be limited to the particular application disclosed hereinbelow.

One of the problems of roll toilet tissue dispensers utilized in public and semi-public buildings lies in the fact that users waste said tissue and such waste is facilitated by the simultaneous exposure of a plurality of rolls of tissue, since there appears to be a tendency to utilize the full roll and not to exhaust the partially consumed roll. It also appears to be a psychological pattern on the part of users that, when more than one roll of tissue is exposed, excessive consumption and waste of the tissue occurs.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a dispenser for toilet tissue in roll form which is characterized by the fact that it is adapted to locate a first roll of tissue in an exposed, dispensing position and to maintain a second, reserve roll in a reserve position, whereby, when the exposed roll in the dispensing position is fully consumed, the reserve roll may be moved by a user into the exposed dispensing position.

There have been numerous prior art devices directed to the solution of this problem but all of these devices have entailed some type of mechanical latch means or moving covers, or the like, intended to be displaced when the consumption of the exposed roll has been accomplished. In some devices it is necessary to strip the conventional core of the consumed exposed roll from the support therefor before the reserve roll can be moved into position. Obviously, such stripping of the core is an arduous task not relished by the user of the dispenser. In other devices, the movement of covers, or the like, entails a basic understanding of the operation of the dis penser incorporating such movable covers, or the like, and certain users are unable to expose the reserve roll for use.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a dispenser for the successive utilization of rolls of toilet tissue which is characterized by the fact that it incorporates no moving parts and, further, does not entail the stripping of the core of the exposed roll before the reserve roll can be moved into the dispensing position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a dispenser adapted to insure the successive utilization of rolls of toilet tissue which is characterized by the fact that the tissue on the exposed roll is adapted to block the movement of the reserve roll into dispensing position until the consumption of said tissue has occurred. Therefore, the dispenser of my invention inherently compels the user to exhaust the exposed roll before moving the reserve or auxiliary roll into the dispensing position in the dispenser.

3,126,164 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 A further object of my invention is the provision of a dispenser adapted to successively dispense a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue which is characterized by the incorporation therein of a first support adapted to maintain a roll of toilet tissue in an exposed position and a second support adapted to maintain a reserve roll in a reserve position, the second support having a portion located in the exposed position, but said first support being so located that the tissue on the exposed roll prevents movement of the reserve roll onto the portion of said second support in said exposed position.

Another object of my invention is the provision, in a dispenser of the aforementioned character, of an enclosure which partially shields and prevents easy access to the reserve roll so that a user is compelled, both physically and psychologically, to utilize and exhaust the tissue on the exposed roll.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the dispenser mounted in a horizontal position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken on the broken line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the broken line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken from the broken line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical, sectional view showing the reserve roll located in the exposed position;

FIG. 7 is a View showing the mounting of the dispenser in a vertical orientation with the dispenser fully loaded; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the reserve roll in the exposed or the dispensing position.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, I show a dispenser 10 which includes a housing 12 formed from wood, sheet metal or the like, said housing having a mounting bracket 14 formed integrally therewith adapted to facilitate the securement thereof to a wall surface 16. Of course, the housing 12 can be fabricated in a wide variety of designs and it is not intended that the teachings of the invention be limited by the particular design of housing shown.

The housing 12 includes an end plate 20 at the lefthand extremity thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawings, said end plate having an upwardly directed tab 22 and a downwardly directed tab 24 formed upon the opposite edges thereof. The housing 12 also incorporates a fixed enclosure 30 which, together with a front panel 32 and the end plate 20, defines a substantially rectangular opening 34 which constitutes the exposed dispensing location of the dispenser 10. Formed integrally with the enclosure portion 30 adjacent the rectangular opening 34 is an upwardly directed tab 38 and said enclosure has an end plate 40 formed integrally therewith which incorporates a depending mounting tab 42, for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below.

The end plate 20 incorporates an elongated recess 44 in the inner surface thereof and said recess terminates at its upper extremity in an abutment 46 on the inner surface of the mounting tab 22 while the lower extremity of said recess is open at the lower extremity of the downwardly extending mounting tab 24. The tab 38 incorporates a relatively short, downwardly opening recess 48 in the inner surface thereof, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The depending mounting tab 42 in the end plate 40 also incorporates a downwardly extending slot or opening 52 in the inner surface thereof. The

elongated opening or recess 44 has a deeper portion 54 adjacent the lower extremity thereof which defines a retaining shoulder 56. An aperture 58 communicates with said deeper portion 54, for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below. Similarly, the elongated recess 52 has a deeper portion 64 which defines a retaining shoulder 66, said deeper portion having an aperture 68 communicating therewith.

Demountably securable in the housing 12 of the dispenser is mounting means '70 which, as best shown in FIGS. 24 of the drawings, includes an elongated mounting plate 72 formed from sheet metal or the like and adapted to be slidably received in the elongated recess 44 in the end plate 20. Secured, as by means of Welding or the like, to the inner surface of the mounting plate 72, is a first mounting spindle or support 76 located at the upper extremity of the mounting plate 72 and having a free extremity 78 adapted to be received in the corresponding recess 48 in the tab 38 provided on the enclosure 30. Therefore, the first mounting spindle 76 is disposed adjacent the opening 34 at the first, exposed dispensing location.

Disposed in parallelism with the first mounting spindle 76 and secured to the lower extremity of the mounting plate 72 at one extremity thereof, is a second mounting spindle 86 which is of approximately twice the length of the first mounting spindle 76 and which has a free extremity 88 adapted to be received in the corresponding elongated recess 52 in the mounting tab 42 in the end plate 40. The mounting plate '72 is provided with a spring catch 90 adjacent the lower extremity thereof and a corresponding catch 92 is secured to the free extremity 88 of the second mounting spindle 86.

Thus, the mounting means 70 may be inserted in operative relationship with the housing 12 of the dispenser 10 by locating the upper extremity of the mounting plate 72 in the open lower extremity of the elongated recess 44-. The plate 72 is then slid upwardly in the recess 44 and the upper extremity thereof ultimately engages the abutment 46 which terminates said recess. At this juncture the spring catch 96 will snap into engagement with the detent abutment 56 provided at the lower extremity of the deeper portion 54 of the recess 44.

Similarly, and simultaneously, the spring catch 2 on the free extremity 88 of the second mounting spindle 86 will engage upon the corresponding detent abutment 66 at the lower extremity of the deeper portion 64 of the recess 52. Thus, the mounting means 70 will be located against removal from the associated housing 12 of the dispenser 10 and a special, elongated tool must be inserted through the apertures 58 and 68 to urge the spring catches 9i) and 92 inwardly to release them from the corresponding abutments on the associated mounting tabs 24 and 42. When such release has been accomplished, of course, the mounting means 70 can he slid downwardly in the associated end plates to free it from operative engagement with the housing 12.

It will be noted that, in addition to being disposed in parallelism with the first mounting spindle 76, the second mounting spindle 86 is, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, provided with a locating portion 102 which is essentially a substantially flattened ovoid section of the tubular member from which the second mounting spindle 86 is fabricated.

It will be noted from FIGS. 1-6 that the first, exposed roll 110 of toilet tissue incorporates a core 112 and is adapted to be installed on the first mounting spindle 76 by insertion of the free end 78 of said spindle through the core 112. Similarly, the second, reserve roll 120 is inserted over the free end 88 of the second mounting spindle 86 and the core 122 thereof is distorted by encompassing the locating means constituted by the flattened portion 102 of the mounting spindle 86. The distortion of the core 122 is accompanied by corresponding distortion of the roll 120 of toilet tissue, as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Therefore, it can be readily understood that free movement of the roll 126 from the extremity 88 thereof onto the portion of the mounting spindle 86 located in the first, dispensing location is prevented by the locating means 162. After the first and second rolls 110 and 120 have been mounted upon the associated mounting spindles 76 and 86, the loaded mounting means 70 is slipped upwardly into the housing 12 of the dispenser 10 in the above described manner and pushed upwardly until the spring latches and 92 engage the corresponding abutments 56 and 66, respectively, in the housing 12. It will be noted that, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the tissue on the rolls is disposed in overlapping relationship and that the distance between the nearest points on the perimeters of the first and second spindles 76 and 86 is slightly greater than the thickness of the tissue of each of the rolls.

Therefore, should an attempt be made to shift the reserve roll 126 to the left while the exposed roll 11% still holds a significant amount of tissue remaining on the exposed roll will block the movement of the reserve roll 120. Furthermore, the distortion of the reserve roll by the locating means 162 also results in enlarging the vertical diameter of the roll 126, as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, to prevent movement of the roll 120. After exhaustion of the tissue on the exposed roll 110 the core 112 is permitted to remain on the first mounting spindle 76, as best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. However, the reserve roll 12% will now clear the core 112 and it can be moved into the dispensing location underlying the first mounting spindle 76 so that free access may be hadto the tissue deposited thereupon.

After partial exhaustion of the roll 120, the mounting means 7 9 can be released from operative engagement with the housing 12 and the partially exhausted roll moved up to the first mounting spindle 76 while the new roll is placed upon the reserve portion of the second mounting spindle 86. The loaded mounting means 79 can then be replaced in operative engagement with the housing 12. It will be noted that, when the rolls 110 and 126 are mounted on the spindles 76 and 86, respectively, the tabs 38 and 42 adjacent the extremities 78 and- 38 of the spindles 76 and 86, respectively, prevent removal of the rolls 110 and 126 from operative engagement with said spindles.

The dispenser 10 can also be utilized in a vertical orientation, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. In this orientation, it is preferable that the enclosure 30 be extended to encompass the reserve roll 120 to a greater extent than when the dispenser 10 is oriented in the horizontal position of FIGS. l-6. When oriented in the vertical position the dispenser 10 has the exposed roll 110 located at the lower extremity of the dispenser for consumption by a user. The reserve roll 120 is maintained in the reserve position by the locating means 192 on the second mounting spindle 86 and the lower extremity of the roll 120 is disposed in spaced relationship with the upper extremity of the exposed roll 110 so that the reserve roll 120 will not impede free rotation of the exposed roll 110 by physical contact therewith.

fter consumption of the tissue on the exposed roll 110, the core 112 thereof is permitted to remain upon the first mounting spindle 76, as best shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The reserve roll 120 can then be pushed downwardly out of engagement with the locating means 102 into the lower position of FIG. 8 of the drawings wherein it is disposed in the dispensing location.

I thus provide by my invention a dispenser adapted to successively dispense a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. The dispenser is characterized by the fact that it does not include mov ing operating parts or components nor does it necessitate the peeling or removal of the core of a roll of tissue from operative engagement with the associated mounting spindle before another roll of tissue is moved into dispensing position. In the dispenser of my invention exhaustion of the material on the exposed roll will immediately permit movement of the reserve roll into dispensing position despite Lhe fact that the core of the exposed roll remains upon the associated mounting spindle. In addition, because of the absence of moving parts or enclosures, the toilet tissue dispenser of my invention can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser adapted to permit successive dispensing of a plurality of rolls of paper, the combination of: a mounting bracket; a first support on said bracket adapted to maintain a first roll of paper in a dispensing position; and a second support on said bracket adapted to maintain a second roll of paper in a reserve position, said second support being disposed in spaced relationship with said first support and said second support having a first portion extending beyond said first support providing said reserve position and a second portion underlying said first support so that, when the roll of paper on said first support has been exhausted, said second roll of paper may be moved from its reserve position on said second support into a dispensing position on said second support in which it is juxtaposed to said first support.

2. In a dispenser adapted to successively dispense a plurality of rolls of material, the combination of: a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a supporting surface; a first spindle secured to said bracket and adapted to receive a first roll of material in a dispensing location; and a second spindle secured to said mounting bracket in conjunction with said first spindle and adapted to receive a second roll of material in a reserve location, said first and second spindles being disposed in parallelism with each other and having their nearest perimeters spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the original thickness of the material on one of said rolls, said second spindle having locating means thereupon adapted to maintain said second roll of material in said reserve location against inadvertent displacement therefrom.

3. In a dispenser adapted to permit the successive utilization of a multiplicity of rolls of material mounted therein, the combination of: a first spindle of a length slightly greater than the length of a first roll deposited thereupon in a dispensing position; and a second spindle of a length at least twice as great as the length of said first spindle, said second spindle having a portion underlying said first spindle and a portion disposed beyond said first spindle, said portion disposed beyond said first spindle constituting a reserve position in which a second roll may be maintained until the consumption of said first roll upon said first spindle, the axes of said spindles being disposed in parallelism with each other and the distance between the nearest portions of the peripheries of said spindles being slightly greater than the original thickness of the materials upon one of said rolls.

4. In a dispenser adapted to permit the successive utilization of a multiplicity of rolls of material mounted therein, the combination of: a first spindle of a length slightly greater than the length of a first roll deposited thereupon in a dispensing position; and a second spindle of a length at least twice as great as the length of said first spindle, said second spindle having a portion underlying said first spindle and a portion disposed beyond said first spindle, said portion disposed beyond said first spindle constituting a reserve position in which a second roll may be maintained until the consumption of said first roll upon said first spindle, the axes of said spindles being disposed in parallelism with each other and the distance between the nearest portions of the peripheries of said spindles being slightly greater than the original thickness of the materials upon said rolls, said second spindle having a locating portion thereupon adapted to maintain said second roll of material in said reserve position against inadvertent displacement therefrom.

5. In a dispenser for a multiplicity of rolls of material which is adapted to permit the successive dispensing of said rolls, the combination of: a housing, said housing having a first dispensing location and a second reserve location therein; a first support on said housing at said first location adapted to receive a first roll of material; and a second support in said housing extending through said first and second locations whereby a second reserve roll may be disposed and maintained in said second location until the consumption of said first roll permits the movement of said second roll into the dispensing location underlying said first support.

6. In a dispenser for a multiplicity of rolls of material which is adapted to permit the successive dispensing of said rolls, the combination of: a housing, said housing having a first dispensing location and a second reserve location therein; a first support on said housing at said first location adapted to receive a first roll of material; and a second support in said housing extending through said first and second locations whereby a second reserve roll may be disposed and maintained in said second location until the consumption of said first roll permits the movement of said second roll into the dispensing location underlying said first support, said second support having means thereupon adapted to maintain said second roll in said second reserve location against inadvertent displacement therefrom.

7. In a dispenser for a multiplicity of rolls of material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting surface, said housing including a first dispensing location and a second reserve location, said reserve location having an enclosure partially emcompassing the same; a first mounting spindle on said housing at said first dispensing location and adapted to receive a first roll of material; and a second mounting spindle disposed in parallelism and spaced relationship with said first mounting spindle, said second mounting spindle having a first portion at said first dispensing location and a second portion disposed at said reserve location whereby a second reserve roll of material may be maintained in said reserve location under said enclosure until the consumption of said first roll of material at said dispensing location permits the movement of said second reserve roll into said dispensing location on said second mounting spindle.

8. In a dispenser for a multiplicity of rolls of material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting surface; said housing including a first dispensing location and a second reserve location, said reserve location having an enclosure partially encompassing the same; a first mounting spindle on said housing at said first dispensing location and adapted to receive a first roll of material; and a second mounting spindle disposed in parallelism and spaced relationship with said first mounting spindle, said second mounting spindle having a first portion at said first dispensing location and a second portion disposed at said reserve location whereby a second reserve roll of material may be maintained in said reserve location under said enclosure until the consumption of said first roll of material at said dispensing location permits the movement of said second reserve roll into said dispensing location on said second mounting spindle, said first and second mounting spindles having nearest portions of their perimeters spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the original thickness of the material on said first and second rolls prior to the con sumption thereof so that, when said first and second rolls are mounted on their respective mounting spindles, the material on said first roll will obstruct and prevent the movement of said second reserve roll into said dispensing location.

9. In a dispenser for a multiplicity of rolls of material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting surface, said housing including a first dispensing location and a second reserve location, said reserve location having an enclosure partially encompassing the sarne; a first mounting spindle on said housing at said first dispensing location and adapted to receive a first roll of material; and a second mounting spindle disposed in parallelism and spaced relationship with said first mounting spindle, said second mounting spindle having a first portion at said first dispensing location and a second portion disposed at said reserve location whereby a second reserve roll of material may be maintained in said reserve location under said enclosure until the consumption of said first roll of material at said dispensing location permits the movement of said second reserve roll into said dispensing location on said second mounting 1 ment of said second reserve roll into juxtaposition to said first roll of material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Boord June 5, 1951 Lee Mar. 24, 1953 

5. IN A DISPENSER FOR A MULTIPLICITY OF ROLLS OF MATERIAL WHICH IS ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE SUCCESSIVE DISPENSING OF SAID ROLLS, THE COMBINATION OF: A HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING A FIRST DISPENSING LOCATION AND A SECOND RESERVE LOCATION THEREIN; A FIRST SUPPORT ON SAID HOUSING AT SAID FIRST LOCATION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A FIRST ROLL OF MATERIAL; AND A SECOND SUPPORT ON SAID HOUSING EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND LOCATIONS WHEREBY A SECOND RESERVE ROLL MAY BE DISPOSED AND MAINTAINED IN SAID SECOND LOCATION UNTIL THE CONSUMPTION OF SAID FIRST ROLL PERMITS THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND ROLL INTO THE DISPENSING LOCATION UNDERLYING SAID FIRST SUPPORT. 